November 19, 2020
Sensitive skin - causes and tips for proper care
by Leonie Poppe
“Why is your skin so sensitive?” Do you sometimes ask your skin that too? You are definitely not alone in this. And that is why I would like to tell you more about the topic of sensitive skin in this blog article .
Your skin is such a brilliant organ that it could basically regulate most things on its own. The emphasis is on could. When healthy, it stores water, protects your body from bacteria and sunlight, and shows a generally balanced complexion. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sensitive skin in particular makes it difficult for it to perform these tasks. And that is why today we are talking about:
- What characterizes sensitive skin?
- What is the main cause of sensitive skin?
- Perioral dermatitis, rosacea and neurodermatitis
- How do I properly care for my sensitive skin?
- Which products are best for sensitive skin?
1. What characterizes sensitive skin?
Our skin often cannot keep up with everyday life. Due to external influences such as exhaust fumes, UV radiation, wind, cold and, above all, the wrong care products, the skin loses the most important thing: its protective barrier. It then shows symptoms such as tightness, redness and itching. The skin feels dry and also reacts excessively to these external stimuli. In addition, sensitive and irritated skin tends to form wrinkles and pigment spots. Your complexion looks pale and tired. Of course, your genetic makeup or other existing illnesses, such as diabetes, also play a certain role.
Like any other skin type, sensitive skin is affected by the seasons. In winter, for example, it tends to dry out and become red more quickly. When temperatures drop, it is important to use the right care products to stabilize the moisture balance and protect the skin barrier. In summer, on the other hand, the focus should be on sun protection and light care products so as not to overtax the skin. Drinking enough water helps the skin no matter what time of year. When we drink enough, all processes in the body run better and all organs work better - including our skin. I will come back to the specific care tips and product recommendations in more detail later. Before that, let's take another look at how our super organ can actually become so sensitive.
2. What is the main cause of sensitive skin?
As already mentioned, the damaged protective barrier is the most important point. Especially when it comes to the correct care of sensitive skin. The protective barrier needs to be repaired, strengthened and, above all, kept healthy with the right products.
If the composition of fats and proteins is not in balance and the skin cannot carry out its actual tasks, a vicious circle occurs. Due to the damage to the protective barrier, it continues to lose water, collagen and elastin. The cells regenerate more slowly and since we cannot enclose ourselves in a capsule to protect ourselves from all influences, the game goes on like this. But we can build a protective shell by giving our skin the right care.
In addition to the skin type “sensitive skin”, there are also skin diseases that make the skin sensitive. Here, however, a coordinated care routine can also achieve a lot. We regularly receive great feedback that the interaction of the right products, a conscious diet and consultation with a trusted dermatologist has tamed rosacea, atopic dermatitis and the like.
3. Perioral dermatitis, rosacea and neurodermatitis
Good to know: Too much of the wrong care is counterproductive for the skin. Perioral dermatitis , for example, occurs for exactly this reason. Too much make-up and too many care products have made the skin intolerant to certain ingredients. The result is red, itchy and burning areas. If you suffer from perioral dermatitis, I can recommend our article on the subject . Here you will find all the information, care tips and advice for everyday life.
Rosacea and neurodermatitis are also diseases that cause sensitive skin. Those affected often have difficulty getting through the overwhelming range of cosmetic products on offer. It is not easy to get an overview and understand the right and wrong ingredients. If you can break it down very roughly, you should pay attention to the following: no fragrances, no silicones, parabens or aggressive surfactants, no irritating alcohols. Be careful with active ingredient cosmetics, as these can often be overwhelming for sensitive skin. However, this is really a very narrow guide. However, we have a few articles on our blog specifically for the two skin diseases in which our specialists explain all the details and useful information. And of course we give you tips on how to keep your skin healthy. Feel free to take a look:
- When the skin blooms – Rosacea: treatment, tips and care
- Or listen to our podcast
- What is neurodermatitis and what helps with neurodermatitis?
- Neurodermatitis – causes, symptoms and care tips
We are aware of the difficulty of finding suitable care products for intolerances and sensitive skin. That is why we make every effort to offer a selection of products that are always developed with sensitive skin in mind. Because that is our claim: compatible products for your skin and the environment!
4. How do I properly care for my sensitive skin?
It is best to note the following points:
- Avoid fragrances such as essential oils – they can irritate the skin and have a high allergy potential.
- Avoid aggressive preservatives such as alcohols – they dry out the skin even more.
- Make sure that the products contain a balanced mix of moisturizers and fats to build up the protective barrier and not just seal the skin with a film of fat. True to the motto: rebuild the protective barrier ! That really is the be-all and end-all here.
- Test the products on a spot on your arm (for at least 3 days and preferably 3 times a day) to see if they are compatible.
- Always make sure you have adequate sun protection – UV radiation is one of the biggest causes of skin damage and irritation.
- Only cleanse your skin with mild, moisturising products (see below ) and avoid soaps and bubble baths – they dry out the skin and, as the name suggests, disrupt the skin's acidic protective acid mantle due to the wrong pH value.
- Be careful not to touch your face unnecessarily. This will help prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses and reduce redness.
- Avoid facial brushes, rough peeling products and "dry rubbing". Your skin needs very gentle care and touch. Therefore, use a fruit acid peeling, such as the BHA peeling, which is also suitable for sensitive skin, to remove dead skin overnight and unclog clogged pores. Soft towels with which you can DAP your face dry are also worthwhile.
5. Which products are best for sensitive skin?
If you have sensitive skin, rosacea or neurodermatitis, you can try out almost our entire range. We do not use any fragrances, essential oils or preservatives . And monohydric alcohols have no place in our products either.
Since most of our products are based on the wonderful aloe vera plant, they are particularly gentle on the skin and leave its protective acid mantle intact.
Some caution is advised with the following products:
All of these products can irritate skin if it is prone to sensitivity. However, not all skin is the same. We always use gentler versions of the ingredients and it may well be that you tolerate the products despite having sensitive skin. It is best to try out the products of your choice first, thanks to the 5 ml sample sizes.
THE BEST PRODUCTS FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
Cleansing oil or cleansing gel
A thorough but gentle cleansing is the best basis for any care. You should be particularly careful to use mild cleansers that do not swell up your skin barrier with unnecessarily aggressive surfactants. This can upset your moisture balance and put your sensitive skin even more at risk. The gentle sugar surfactants in the cleansing oil remove the day's dirt and make-up without drying out the skin. The organic chamomile extract contained in the cleansing gel soothes during cleansing and has a pleasant, natural scent.
The Ceramide Serum is ideal for soothing sensitive skin and strengthening it at the same time to protect it from moisture loss. Since ceramides are already a natural component of the skin and are essential for a healthy skin barrier, they are a valuable part of the skin care routine, especially for sensitive skin. Routine.
Aloe Vera Gel and Spray
The aloe vera gel and the associated spray are particularly suitable. The many properties of the aloe vera plant help to soothe the skin and the gel and spray can provide relief for itchy and burning areas. You can find more information here .
Hyaluron creams: Light , Medium and Rich
Our day cream with moisturizing hyaluronic acid, cooling aloe vera and rich argan oil is also the perfect combination for sensitive skin. It noticeably strengthens the skin barrier and does not burden the skin with unnecessary additives. The same goes for the night cream, which is just formulated a little richer.
Our junglück eye cream supplies stressed and sensitive skin around the eyes with hyaluronic acid and caffeine. It moisturizes, maintains the acid mantle thanks to aloe vera and noticeably promotes skin regeneration.
Since sensitive skin is often not limited to the face , but can also affect parts of the rest of the body, it is just as important to use the right care here. In addition to our set, I can therefore recommend other products.
I can highly recommend this wonderful oil. It supports the skin's natural regeneration and helps to rebuild and strengthen its protective barrier. Since the skin's natural regeneration phase takes place at night, I recommend that you integrate rosehip seed oil into your evening routine as the last step.
If you want to use several of these products and save a little money, I would like to recommend our “Sensitive Skin Set” . Here you will find everything your skin needs to strengthen it without irritating it.
Of course, aloe vera gel and spray are suitable for the face as well as the body. However, if you want a richer treatment, especially in the winter months, the body lotion is a good choice. Our pure oils , especially almond oil , are also good companions for sensitive skin.
Feel free to try out our range and share your experiences with us. You can go directly to the products here.
I look forward to hearing from you! Take care.
